Konjaku Monogatarishū

The Konjaku Monogatarishū (Japanese今昔 物语 集, "History Collection of now and then are " often in somewhat shorter form: Konjaku Monogatari ). 's An anthology that includes more than 1000 Japanese Setsuwa from the late Heian period Originally, the collection comprised 31 Maki ( scrolls), but now missing the rollers 8, 18 and 21, so that at present only 28 Maki are preserved in the original. The collection includes tales from India, China and Japan. The author and the exact date of origin are unknown. The title of the anthology comes from the fact that each story with the phrase 「今ハ昔」 ( Ima wa mukashi corresponds, in German the typical introduction of a fairy tale: Once upon a time ) begins. The Sino- Japanese reading of emerges: kon jaku.

Overview

Although the author is unknown, there are several assumptions about possible editor of Konjaku Monogatari. Looking at the Uji Dainagon Monogatari as an extended edition of the Konjaku Monogatari, so could Minamoto no Takakuni (源 隆 国, 1004-1077 ) have been the publisher. If we add to the warrior class and the Tennō also the clergy as a third power, as well as a monk comes as the editor in question; such as the monk Toba Sojo (鸟羽 僧 正, 1053-1140 ), also known as Kakuyū (覚 猷) known.

If one substantive aspects of Konjaku Monogatari basis and compares it with historical events, such as the Hōgen Rebellion ( 1156 ), the Heiji Rebellion ( 1159/60 ) and the Genpei War ( 1180-85 ), the conclusion suggests, that the collection in the first half of the 12th century, probably after 1120, was born.

The oldest surviving manuscript is the Sazuka edition (铃鹿 家 旧 蔵 本, Sazuka kyū - zōhon ), which was declared in 1996 as a national treasure and is owned by the University of Kyoto.

Content

The Konjaku Monogatari can be divided on the basis of topography in three sections. The first section, covering the first five Maki is called Tenjiku (天竺) because it contains the stories of India. The following five Maki form the second section, Shintan (震旦) in which the stories from China are gathered. The remaining roles of the anthology, the honcho section (本 朝) is from Japan. Each of the three parts has moralizing aspects in the Buddhist sense. Based on the sentence construction that is referenzierend in nature, it is believed that the Konjaku Monogatari is no genuine re-creation, but copy and eclectic repetition of existing works at this time. The sections of the Konjaku Monogatari copy - often in simplified characters - Parts of Nihon Ryōiki and remember the Sanbōekotoba (三宝 絵 词) or Honcho hokke genki (本 朝 法 华 験 记).

The style of the Sazuka output is largely plain. Although the use of the kanji - kana majiribun limits the rhetorical means, but it produces a flow of language of the spoken language is very close. In the original manuscript for Katakana are mixed with kanji used.

The Konjaku Monogatari had great influence on the Setsuwa literature, in particular the Uji Shui Monogatari 13th century. In particular, the works of writers of the Taishō period bear references and influences to Konjaku Monogatari, such as Akutagawa Rashomon Ryūnosukes work and Hana.